24-Credit Graduation Requirement Task Force

24-Credit Graduation Requirement Task Force

In January 2015, the Washington State Board of Education approved a two-year waiver for Seattle Public Schools, delaying implementation of the state's new requirement that high school students earn 24 credits to graduate. Under the waiver, the new requirements would take effect with the class of 2021, when those students enter ninth grade in 2017.

The waiver gives Seattle Public Schools time to address the issue in a way that will most benefit our students. A primary consideration is that most district high schools offer a six-period school day. That means students with typical schedules may earn a maximum of 24 credits over four years, so the current system leaves little wiggle room for credit recovery or electives.

The 24-Credit Graduation Requirement Task Force was formed in March 2015 to research and analyze options, and then make a recommendation regarding high school schedules, graduation policy and credit-hour requirements.

The task force determined its recommendations in April 2016. Note that these are recommendations only. Implementation would depend on a number of factors, such as funding, bargaining, and School Board direction. View the report here:

Timeline

Dec. 18, 2015: Review timeline and next steps with current committee.Dec. 18 to Jan. 20: Solicit new membership from Seattle Education Association (SEA).Jan. 20, 2016: High School Steering Committee to discuss the timeline and select small subgroup to review primarily these four issues: scheduling, online learning, High School and Beyond planning and policies.February: Small group meetings (daylong) combining High School Steering Committee and SEA membership to select three options for 24 credits.February-March: 24-Credit Task Force to hold approximately three daylong meetings. They will narrow the Steering Committee options to one recommendation, addressing selection criteria and recommendations for policy changes.March: Feedback sought from community. (See survey links at right.)March-April: Task force will provide draft recommendation to Associate Superintendent Michael Tolley.March-April: Recommendation shared with principals at Leadership Learning Day.April 2016: Task force final submission of recommendation.

Task force purpose, commitment and scope

The task force is formally known as 24-Credit Task Force - Uplifting High Schools to World Class for College and Career Readiness.The task force will review, research, analyze, dialogue and ultimately develop a formal recommendation regarding systemic scheduling, policies,and procedures that will provide the best high school environment for all high school students in Seattle Public Schools.

Commitment
We will engage stakeholders in facilitated discussions to:

Understand the current reality in our high schools

Understand the college and career readiness initiative and its impact on the students of Seattle Public Schools

Provide recommendations to the superintendent by April 2016 regarding a systemic and comprehensive plan to uplift our high schools to world class so that all students are college and career ready

Scope of Work

Understand Washington Administrative Code 180-51-068 requirements for college and career readiness

Understand current reality in Seattle Public Schools for high school students including schedules, access to courses, policies, procedures and graduation requirements

Discovery and research of schedule models

Analysis of the effect a different schedule will have on class size and the number of classes needed to accommodate student schedules

Community engagement acquiring feedback on ideas

Analysis of professional development needed, if at all, to transition to new master schedule and successfully achieve the goals of the career and college readiness initiative

Discuss desired outcomes and impact for PE waivers, access to career and technical courses, access to advanced, college-level courses, athletic eligibility, district graduation requirements such as 2.0 GPA, alternative education options and credit recovery, freshmen success, implications of 24-credit waiver, meaningful High School and Beyond Plan and other opportunities as appropriate to our purpose

Agree as we encounter concerns that we document and address in final work

Grapple with current reality of autonomy in Seattle high schools

Address the tension, equity and reality of 24 credits, student aspirations and all students becoming career and college ready

Understand and encourage innovative thinking such as interdisciplinary credit, dual credit and flexibility for students